Circuit breaker



May 20, 1958 w. H. FRANK ETAL 2,835,765

CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Nov. 22; 1954 s SheetsSheet 1 Y I I IN V EN TORS b. flaw/F. 2 00 I 77' 7/42 2? May 20, 1958 w. H. FRANK ETAL CIRCUIT BREAKER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 22, 1954 I? 3 1 f 7 mg mg MMZ y? vi May 20, 1958 V w. H. FRANK ET AL 2,835,765

' CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Nov. 22, 1954 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 'III M4 52) J E irrar/vlx United States Patent CIRCUIT BREAKER Wiliiam H. Frank, Elwood T. Platz, and Eoseph A. Messing, Detroit, Mich, assignors, by mesne assignments, to I-T-E Circuit Breaker Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 22, 1954, Serial No. 470,364

14 Claims. (Cl. 200-116) This invention relates to automatic and manually operable circuit breakers used for the control of electric power in lighting and appliance circuits of commercial, industrial, and residential buildings.

it is particularly desirable that such circuit breakers have a small number of operating elements to keep the cost of manufacture to a minimum and to reduce the possibility of failure inherent in complex mechanisms. it is also desirable that the circuit condition of the breaker be readily ascertainable, i. e., whether the breaker mechanism is in the open or closed circuit position, manually as well as visually, as it is often necessary to make such a determination in the dark.

Accordingly, a principal object of this invention is to provide a circuit breaker having a minimum number of operating elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a circuit breaker which permits the circuit condition to be readily ascertained both visually and manually.

Another object is to provide a circuit breaker having a novel combination housing cover and actuator.

Still another object is to provide a circuit breaker having a cover which excludes dust and other foreign matter.

Still another object is to provide a circuit. breaker having a cover which controls the venting of gases which arise upon circuit interruption in the interior of the breaker.

Still another object is to provide a circuit breaker having rapid separation of the contacts upon manual and automatic actuation to the open circuit position and rapid closing of the contacts upon manual actuation to the closed circuit position.

Still another object is to provide a circuit breaker having separate actuators to move the breaker mechanism to the open and closed circuit positions.

Still another object is to provide a circuit breaker wherein manual operation of the breaker mechanism to the open circuit position is accomplished by tripping of the fault responsive latch member.

Still another object is to provide a circuit breaker wherein movement of the breaker mechanism to the open and closed circuit positions is initiated by inward movement of the respective actuators.

Still another object is to provide a circuit breaker which is manually operated to the closed circuit position after automatic actuation to the open circuit position in the same manner as after manual actuation to the open circuit position.

Still other Objects and advantages will appear from the following detailed description and drawings in which:

Fig. l is an elevational view of the circuit breaker with one side of the casing removed showing the mechanism in the closed circuit position.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the circuit breaker with one side of the casing removed showing the mechanism in the open circuit position.

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Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the circuit breaker with one side removed showing the mechanism in the open circuit position after automatic tripping.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a portion of the circuit breaker showing the mechanism in an intermediate position prior to the circuit being closed.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the bimetallic latch member.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of a portion of the circuit breaker mechanism.

- Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view as if on line 77 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of another embodiment of the invention showing the mechanism in the closed circuit position. i

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of the embodiment of Fig. 8 showing the mechanism in the open circuit position.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of a portion of the mechanism of the embodiment of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of a portion of the mechanism of the embodiment of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 shows a circuit breaker indicated generally as 11, which is an embodiment of the invention. The circuit breaker is both manually and automatically operable to the open circuit position to control and protect branch electric lighting and appliance circuits connected thereto. Automatic operation is effectcd through a fault responsive latch element which, when subjected to an overload current of sufiicient magnitude and duration, warps to thereby release a member held in latching engagement to permit the circuit breaker mechanism to move to the open circuit position. The latch member may also be biased by an appropriate mag netic mechanism to release the member held in latching engagement. As shown in Fig. 1, the breaker 11 includes a housing 12 of molded insulation material, such as phenol formaldehyde, having a removable side plate 13 of similar material (Fig. 7) secured to housing 12 by screws (not shown) inserted through side plate 13 into tapped holes 14. Housing 12 is formed with a lower wall 12a having a spring recess 12b, a side wall 120, a side wall 12d, :1 top wall 12c, and a rear wall 13a.

Side wall 12d is formed with a projection 12 and an abutment 12g, which functions :as hereinafter described. Top wall 12c is ofiset below the upper portions of side walls and 12d, as shown in Fig. 1, to provide recesses 1211 and 12k, as defined by extensions 12m and 12n, which project upwardly in the center of upper wall 12c to enclose a trip indicator slot 12p. Openings 12r and 12s are provided for the oil and on actuators 31 and 32. Opening 121' is formed with downwardly extending guide walls 122 and 12v, which serve to guide actuator 31 in its upward and downward movement. Disposed in a slot of side wall 12d is a line connector 41 having a line contact 42 secured thereto, which abuts and is supported by the lower surface of extension 12 of side wall 1212'. Line connector 41 is composed of appropriate conductor material, such as copper, and is connected to the line circuit by an appropriate terminal (not shown). In the opposite side wall 120 there is secured a load connector 43 having a portion 45 bent up at right angles along the inner surface of side wall 12c. To this right angle portion 45 there is welded a bimetallic latch member 46. Bimetallic latch member 46 is notched on the lower end (Fig. 5) to define a trip lug 46a bent inwardly as shown and a latch abutment 46b.

A diagonal guide recess 13b is formed in the rear wall 13a of housing 12. Rear wall 13a also includes a lug located adjacent to operator 31.

Disposed in the interior of housing 12 is a contactor 21 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4) formed of an appropriate conducting a metal, such as copper. Contactor 21 includes a body portion 22 having a spring lug 23 in its lower edge. Extending from the lower right hand corner of body portion 22 is a wedge-shaped latch lug 24. A contact arm 25 extends from the left side (Fig. l) of body portion 22 to support a movable contact 26. A holding member 27 extends from the right side of body portion 22 and includes a latch tip 28 and a retaining pin To actuate the trip indicator, as hereinafter described, an indicator lug 51 is provided which projects from the upper edge of body portion 22.

Pivoted by a pivot pin 52 to body portion 22 is an actuator member 53. As shown in Fig. l, the rear end of pivot pin 52 is positioned in guide recess 1% of rear wall 13a of housing 12 to thereby control the movement of contactor 21, as will be explained in greater detail. Actuator member 53 is biased in a counterclockwise manner about pivot pin 52 by a torsion spring 54, having one arm seated on the upper surface of the body por' tion 22 of contactor 21 and the other arm seated on the right edge of actuator member 53. Further rotation counterclockwise about pivot pin 52 is inhibited by the engagement of a wedge-shaped stop 55 with the upper edge of body portion 22. The upper end of actuator member 53 is formed with a hook 56 and an actuator member cam 57, which is adapted to engage lug 3130 extending from the rear wall 13a of housing 12 when the mechanism is actuated to the closed circuit position.

Main operating force for contactor 21 is supplied by a main spring 23a, the upper coil of which surrounds spring lug 23 of contactor 21. The lower end of spring 23a is seated in recess 12b of lower wall 12a of housing 12.

The circuit breaker is provided with separate actuators 31, 32 to initiate operation of the contactor 21 to the closed and open circuit positions, respectively. Operating force is applied to actuators 31, 32 through a flexible cover 61 (Figs. 1, 2, 3) of a suitable flexible sheet material, which is secured to the upper surface of side walls 12d and 120 and to indicator slot partitions 12m and 1211. The portions of cover 61 overlying recesses 1211 and 12!; are formed, as shown, to create hemispherical operators 61a and 61b, which assume a convex position when actuators 31, 32 are in the uppermost position and a concave position when the actuators 31, 32 are pushed inwardly. The cover 61 provides an effective closure to exclude dust and other foreign matter from the interior of housing 12. By providing a sealed enclosure for the openings wherein the actuators .31, 32 are disposed, cover 61 also precludes the exit of gases formed by circuit interruption from the top of the circuit breaker. A vent opening (not shown) is provided for the controlled dis position of such gases.

Actuator 31 (Fig. 1), which initiates operation of the breaker mechanism to the closed circuit position when force is transmitted to it by operator 61a, comprises preferably a narrow strip of insulating material having a holding notch 31a which engages actuator member hook 56. Disposed between the upper surface of upper wall 12e and a retaining pin 310 is a coil return spring 31d. Actuator 32, for moving the breaker mechanism to the open circuit position (Figs. 1, 2, 3), is a bifurcated member of insulating material (Fig. 6) having two downwardly extending legs 32a, 321), the former being considerably longer than the latter. Legs 32a and 325 may be guided by any appropriate means, such as recesses (not shown) in the rear wall 13a of housing 12. A coil return spring 32c is disposed around the upper necked-down portion 320', as in the closed circuit actuator 31. Extending from the front side of the lower portion of leg 32a of actuator 32 is a retaining pin 32 Leg 321; of actuator 32 includes a notch 32g and a latch trip extension 32k (Fig. 7), which functions to release contactor latch tip 27 from engagement with bimetallic latch abutment 46b to thereby release contactor 21 for movement to the open circuit position.

Interconnected between the lower end of bimetallic latch 46 and the latching portion 27 of connector 21 is a flexible conductor 74.

To indicate the circuit condition of the breaker visual- 1y after automatic tripping, a trip indicator 71 is provided. Indicator 71 comprises a thin spare strip of resilient material formed in a C-shape, having one end disposed in a slot '72 between the lower surface of upper wall 122 and a block 73 projecting from the rear wall 11%: of housing 12. The circuit condition upon automatic tripping is indicated manually by the position of operators 61a, 61b. As shown in Fig. 3, upon release of actuator 31, after automatic tripping as described below, operators 61a, 61b will be in the outward position.

With the circuit breaker in the closed circuit position of Fig. l, the current path is from line connector 41 through fixed and movable contacts 42, 26, to contactor 21 to flexible connector 74 to bimetallic latch member 46 to load connector 43.

The functioning of the breaker is as follows: When it is desired to manually operate the mechanism to the open circuit position from the closed circuit position of Fig. l, the operating force is applied to operator 61b forcing actuator 32 downwardly against the bias of actuator spring 32c. Actuator 32 moves downwardly until latch trip extension 32k strikes trip lug 46a of bimetallic latch member 46. Further downward movement of actuator 32 moves bimetallic latch member 46 to the right (Fig. 2) forcing latch abutment 46b to the right along the upper surface of latch tip 28 of contactor 21 until latch tip 28 is clear of engagement with latch abutment 46b. Retaining pin 32 has moved below catch lug 24 of contactor 21. Upon release of latch tip 28, contactor 21 under bias of main spring 23a moves upwardly and to the right as controlled by the engagement of the inner end of guide pin 52 with recess 13b in rear wall 13a of housing 12. When the limit of slot 13b is reached (Fig. 2), the upward and lateral movement of contactor 21 is converted to counterclockwise movement about guide pin 52 because the line of force of main spring 23a is to the right of guide pin 52 as it is located in the upper extremity of recess 13b. Movable contact a 26 slides laterally to the right along the contact surface of fixed contact 42 until it is withdrawn downwardly from fixed contact 42 as contactor 21 rotates about guide pin 52.

Further rotation of contactor 21 about guide pin 52 is prevented by the engagement of retaining pin 29 with the right edge of leg 32b of actuator 32. The contactor 21 then comes to rest in the open circuit position of Fig. 2. In this position indicator lug 51 does not contact indicator 71.

Retaining pin 32f is positioned below catch lug 24 and held thereby to maintain actuator 32 in the downward position. Operator 61b is depressed, indicating to an observer that the circuit breaker mechanism has been manually operated to the open circuit position.

When it is desired to re-establish the circuit through the breaker, operator 61a is depressed. Actuator 31 is caused to move downwardly against the bias of actuator spring 31a. As actuator 31 moves downwardly, the bottom surface strikes the upper surface of hook 56 (Pig. 4), which moves downwardly depressing contactor 21. Further movement of actuator 31 depresses the lower edge of contact arm 25 until it engages the upper surface of abutment 12g. Contactor 21 then rotates about the point of engagement of contactor arm 25 with abutment 12g and as it rotates, it also moves to the left as pivot pin 52 is so guided by groove 13b, as shown in Fig. 4. This movement causes holding member 27 to also move downwardly and to the left to position latch tip 28 to the left and below latch abutment 46a of bimetallic latch member 46. Further continued movement of actuator 31 causes actuator member 53 to rotate clockwise about pivot pin 52 to permit the lower edge of actuator 33. to bypass actuator mcmber hook 56 until actuator member hook 56 clears the lower edge of holding notch 32in. Torsion spring 54 then forces hook 56 into holding notch 31a to release actuating member 53 and permit it to move upwardly (Fig. 6). Contactor 21 then moves upwardly and to the right under the bias of main spring 23a with holding member tip 28 engaging latch abutment 46a and movable contact 26 engaging fixed contact 42 to thereby reestablish the circuit through the breaker. Operator 61a of cover 61 is retained in the depressed position by actuator 31, which is held downwardly against the bias of spring 31d by'the engagement of actuator member hook 56 with the lower edge of notch 35a. Actuator member cam 57 engages lug 130 to preclude rotation of actuator member 53 and release of actuator 31. The depressed position of operator 6111 indicates to an observer that the circuit breaker mechanism is in the closed circuit position. As contactor 21 rotates during the circuit closing movement, retaining pin 32 of actuator 32 is released by catch lug 24. Actuator 32 and operator 61b are thus released to move upwardly under the force of spring 320 to the circuit closed position.

If a fault should occur in the circuit controlled by the circuit breaker, bimetallic latch member 46 would become heated and would warp to the right, as shown in Fig. 3. Latch tip 28 of holding member 27 would be released, permitting contactor 21 to move laterally to the right and upward under the force of main spring 23a until pivot pin 52 engages the upper extremity of guide slot 13b, whereupon contactor 21 would rotate counterof indicator 71 to the left until it appears in indicator 7 slot 12p. An appropriate label on the upper end of indicator 71 will indicate to an observer through a transparent portion of cover 61 that the breaker has been automatically tripped. Additional trip indication to the observer is signalled by the fact that both operators 61a and 61b are projecting outward when the circuit breaker has tripped automatically.

Should operator 61a be heldin the circuit closing position of Fig. 1 during the occurrence of an overload, actuator member 53 would pivot about pivot pin 52, as shown in Fig. 6, to permit the contactor 21 to move to the open circuit position. The breaker will thus automatically trip regardless of the position of the operator 61a and actuator 31. The breaker mechanism is restored to the closed circuit position after automatic tripping in the same manner described above for manual movement to the closed circuit position. Indicator lug 51 is thereby removed from engagement with indicator 71, permitting the latter to return to the right from indicator slot 12 Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10. This embodiment employs the cover and housing disclosed by the preferred embodiment. Such cover and housing for purposes of brevity is indicated schematically as 81. Disposed in the housing is an abutment 82 which projects upwardly from the lower wall 81a. Spaced from the rear wall 81b and secured to member projecting therefrom (not shown) is a guide plate 83 having a guide slot 830 which receives the end of a pivot pin 84 extending from the side of a contactor 85. Contactor 85 comprises a rectangularly-shaped piece of ponducting metal having a movable contact 85a affixed at one end adapted to engage fixed contact 86. A latch tip b is formed at the opposite end. Intermediate the ends, extends upwardly an L-shaped actuating member 850. A main spring 87 provides operating force for contactor 85. Projecting from back wall 81b of housing 81 is a conducting element 37, having secured thereto a bimetallic latch member shaped as in the preferred embodiment. Closed and open circuit actuators 88, 89, respectively, are provided with suitable biasing means (not shown) and initiate operation of the breaker mechanism to the respective circuit positions. Actuator 88 comprises a strip of insulating material having a shallow recess in the outer surface (Fig. 10), the edges 88a of which provide limits which engage a stop 88c to limit the upward and downward movement of the actuator 5&8. A portion is cut away from the lower half of actuator 258 at 88b and a notch 38d cut upward into the middle of the actuator (Fig. 11) to receive the end of a pawl 88c. Pawl 83a is pivoted in notch 88d by a pivot pin $8 which extends through from the front surface to the rear surface of actuator 83. A torsion spring having one leg seated on the edge of actuator 88 and the other on the edge of pawl 88c constantly biases pawl 88a in a counterclockwise direction about pivot pin 33f. Pawl 882 is cut away in the upper left hand corner to permit clockwise rotation about pivot 88 Counterclockwise rotation is prevented by the engagement of the upper right hand corner of pawl 88c with the upper edge of notch 88d.

Actuator 89 comprises a strip of insulating material similar to actuator 88 having a recess in the upper surface, the edges 89a of which provide limits to upward and downward movement.

Movement of this embodiment to the open circuit position is accomplished similarly to that of the preferred embodiment. Upon force being applied to actuator 88 to move the mechanism to the closed circuit position, actuator 88 moves downwardly with the lower edge of pawl 88c striking actuating member 85c. Further movement of actuator 33 rotates contactor 85 clockwise about the point of engagement of contactor S5 with abutment 82 (Fig. 9) until latch tip 85]) engages the latch abutment of bimetallic latch member 92.

Upon occurrence of an overload latch tip 851) of contactor 85 is released from engagement with bimetallic latch member 92 for rotation about pivot pin 84 until contactor 35 comes to rest against the upper surface of abutment 85.2. As contactor 85 rotates, actuator member strikes the lower right hand edge of pawl 88:: (Fig. 10). l-awl She rotates clockwise against the bias of spring so to permit contactor 85 to move to the open circuit position of Fig. 9. Movement of the mechanism to the closed circuit position after automatic tripping is accomplished in the same manner as after manual operation to the open circuit position.

While the disclosure employs a bimetal-type of faulttripping latch, for the purpose of simplicity of disclosure it is understood that either combination-bimetal and magnetic type or magnetic only type, fault-tripping latches of a kind well known in the art are within the scope and purview of our invention.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been specifically disclosed, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Reference should be had to the following claims for the scope thereof.

We claim:

1. In a manually and automatically operable circuit breaker having a housing, a cover means for said housing, said cover means having portions comprising manual operators, actuating means disposed beneath said cover, a contactor disposed in said housing having a portion engaging said housing, means secured to said contactor and arranged to be engaged by said actuating means for movement of said contactor to the closed circuit position, a fault responsive means engageable with said contactor upon manual actuation of the contactor to circuit closed position to thereby hold said contactor in the closed circuit position and automatically and manually releasable from said contactor to permit said contactor to move to the open circuit position, said actuation means including a first and second actuators, said first actuator being engageable with said contactor means to move said contactor to the circuit closed position, said second actuator being engageable with said fault responsive means to thereby release said fault responsive means from engagement with said contactor to permit said contactor to move to the open circuit position.

2. In a manually and automatically operable circuit breaker having a housing, a cover means for said housing, said cover means having portions comprising manual operators, actuating iieans disposed beneath said cover,

a contactor disposed in said housing having a portion engaging said housing, means secured to said contactor and arranged to be engaged by said actuating means for movement of said contactor to the closed circuit position, a fault responsive means engageable With said contactor upon manual actuation of the contactor to circuit closed position to thereby hold said contactor in the closed circuit position and automatically and manually releasable from said contactor to permit said contactor to move to the open circuit position, said actuation means including a first and second actuators, said first actuator being engageable with said contactor means to move said contactor to the circuit closed position, said second actuator being engageable with said fault responsive means to thereby release said fault responsive means from engagement with said contactor to permit said contactor to move to the open circuit position, and resilient means for caus ing said contactor to move to the open circuit position.

3. In a manually and automatically operable circuit breaker having a housing, a cover means for said housing, said cover means having portions comprising manual operators, actuating means disposed beneath said cover, a contactor disposed in said housing having a portion engaging said housing, means secured to said contactor and arranged to be enga ed by said actuating means for movement of said contactor to the closed circuit position, a fault responsive means engageable with said contactor upon manual actuation of the contactor to circuit closed position to thereby hold said contactor in the closed circuit position and automatically and manually releasable from said contactor to permit said contactor to move to the open circuit position, said contactor means being pivotally secured to said contactor.

4. In a manually and automatically operable circuit breaker having housing, a cover means for said housing. said cover means having portions comprising manual operators, actuating means disposed beneath said cover, a contactor disposed in said housing having a portion engaging said housing, means secured to said contactor and arranged to be engaged by said actuating means for movement of said contactor to the closed circuit position, a fault responsive-means engageable with said contactor upon manual actuation of the contactor to circuit closed position to thereby hold said contactor in the closed circuit position and automatically and manually releasable from said contactor to permit said contactor to move to the open circuit position, said actuation means including a first and second actuators, said first actuator being engageable With said contactor means to move said contactor to the circuit closed position, said second actuator being engageable with said ault responsive means to thereby release said fault responsive means from engagement with said contactor to permit said contactor to move to the open circuit position, said contactor means being pivotally secured to said contactor.

5. In a manually and automatically operable circuit breaker having a housing, a cover means for said housing, said cover means having portions comprising manual operators, actuating means disposed beneath said cover, a contactor disposed in said housing having a portion engaging said housing, resilient means for causing said contactor to move to the open circuit position, means secured to said contactor and arranged to be engaged by said actuating means for movement of said contactor to the closed circuit position, a fault responsive means engageable with said contactor upon manual actuation of the contactor to circuit closed position to thereby hold ccnta tor in the closed circuit position and automatically and manually releasable from said contactor to permit said contactor to move to the open circuit position, said contactor means being pivotally secured to said contactor.

6. in a manually and automatically operable circuit breaker having a housing, a cover means for said housing, said cover means having portions comprising manual operators, actuating means disposed beneath said cover, a contactor disposed in said housing having a portion engaging said housing, means secured to said contactor and arranged to be engaged by said actuating means for movement of said contactor to the closed circuit position, a fault responsive means engageable with said contactor upon manual actuation of the contactor to circuit closed position to thereby hold said contactor in the closed circuit position and automatically and manually releasable from said contactor to permit said contactor to moveto the open circuit position, said actuation means including a first and second actuators, said first actuator being engageable with said contactor means to move said contactor to the circuit closed position, said second actuator being engageable with said fault responsive means to thereby release said fault responsive means from engagement with said contactor to permit said contactor to move to the open circuit position, resilient means for causing said contactor to move to the open circuit position, said contactor means being pivotally secured to said contactor.

7. In a manually and automatically operable circuit breaker having a housing, a cover means for said housing, said cover means having portions comprising manual operators, actuating means disposed beneath said cover, said housing having indicator means disposed therein to indicate the circuit condition in said breaker upon automatic trip, a contactor disposed in said housing having a portion engaging said housing, said contactor including means to bias said indicator to the indicating position, means'secured to said contactor and arranged to be engagcd by said actuating means for movement of said contactor to the closed circuit position, a fault responsive means engageable with said contactor upon manual actuation of the contactor to circuit closed position to thereby hold said contactor in the closed circuit position and automatically and manually releasable from said contactor to permit said contactor to move to the open circuit position, said contactor being constructed and positioned to permit said contactor bias means to operate said indicator only when said circuit breaker is automatically tripped.

8. In a manually and automatically operable circuit breaker having a housing, a cover means for said housing, said cover means having portions comprising manual operators, actuating means disposed beneath said cover, said housing having indicator means disposed therein to indicate the circuit condition in said breaker upon auto matic trip, a contactor disposed in said housing having a portion engaging said housing, said contactor including means to bias said indicator to the indicating position, means secured to said contactor and arranged to be engaged by said actuatingmeans for movement of said contactor to the closed circuit position, a fault responsive means engageable with said contactor upon manual actuation of the contactor to circuit closed position to thereby hold said contactor in the closed circuit positionand automatically and manually releasable from said contactor to permit said contactor to move to the open circuit position, said actuation means including a first and second actuators, said first actuator being engageable with said contactor means to move said contactor to the circuit closed position, said second actuator being engageable with said fault responsive means to thereby release said fault responsive means from engagement with said contactor to permit said contactor to move to the open circuit position.

9. In a manually and automatically operable circuit breaker having a housing, a cover means for said housing, said cover means having portions comprising manual operators, actuating means disposed beneath said cover, a contactor disposed in said housing having a portion engaging said housing, resilient means for causing said contactor to move to the open circuit position, means secured to said contactor and arranged to be engaged by said actuating means for movement of said contactor to the closed circuit position, a fault responsive means engageable with said contactor upon manual actuation of the contactor to circuit closed position to thereby hold said contactor in the closed circuit position and automatically and manually releasable from said contactor to permit said contactor to move'to the open circuit position, said housing having indicator means disposed therein to indicate the circuit condition in said breaker only upon automatic trip, said contactor including means to bias said indicator to the indicating position.

10. In a manually and automatically operable circuit breaker having a housing, a cover means for said housing, said cover means having portions comprising manual operators, actuating means disposed beneath said cover, a contactor disposed in said housing having a portion engaging said housing, means secured to said contactor and arranged to be engaged by said actuating means for movement of said contactor to the closed circuit position, afault responsive means engageable with said contactor upon manual actuation of the contactor to circuit closed position to thereby hold said contactor in the closed circuit position and automatically and manually releasable from said contactor to permit said contactor to move to the open circuit position, said actuation means including a first and second actuators, said first actuator being engageable with said contactor means to move said contactor to the circuit closed position, said second actuator being engageable with said fault responsive means to thereby release said fault responsive means from engagement with said contactor to permit said contactor to move to the open circuit position, resilient means for causing said contactor to move to the open circuit position, said housing having indicator means disposed therein to indicate the circuit condition in said breaker upon automatic trip, said contactor including means to bias said indicator to the indicating position.

11. In a manually and automatically operable circuit I breaker having a housing, a cover means for said housing, said cover means having portions comprising manual operators, actuating means disposed beneath said cover, a contactor disposed in said housing having a portion engaging said housing, means secured to said contactor and arranged to be engaged by said actuating means for movement of said contactor to the closed circuit position, a fault responsive means engageable with said contactor upon manual actuation of the contactor to circuit closed position to thereby hold said contactor in the closed circuit position and automatically and manually releaseable from said contactor to permit said contactor to move to the open circuit position, said contactor means being pivotally secured to said contactor, said housing having indicator means disposed therein to indicate the circuit condition in said breaker upon automatic trip, said contactor including means to bias said indicator to the indicating position.

12. In a manually and automatically operable circuit breaker having a housing, a cover means for said housing, said cover means having portions comprising manual operators, actuating means disposed beneath said cover, a contactor disposed in said housing having a portion engaging said housing, means secured to said contactor and arranged to be engaged by said actuating means for movement of said contactor to the closed circuit position, a fault responsive means engageable with said contactor upon manual actuation of the contactor to circuit closed position to thereby hold said contactor in the closed circuit position and automatically and manually releasable from said contactor to permit said contactor to move to the open circuit position, said actuation means including a first and second actuators, said first actuator being engageable with said contactor means to move said contactor to the circuit closed position, said second actuator being engageable with said fault responsive means to thereby release said fault responsive means from engagement with said contactor to permit said contactor to move to the open circuit position, said contactor means being pivotally secured to said contactor, said housing having indicator means disposed therein to indicate the circuit condition in said breaker upon automatic trip, said contactor including means to bias said indicator to the indicating position.

13. In a manually and automatically operable circuit breaker having a housing, a cover means for said housing, said cover means having portions comprising manual operators, actuating means disposed beneath said cover, a contactor disposed in said housing having a portion engaging said hou ing, resilient means for causing said contactor to move to the open circuit position, means secured to said contactor and arranged to be engaged by said actuating means for movement of said contactor to the closed circuit position, a fault responsive means engageable with said contactor upon manual actuation of the contactor to circuit closed position to thereby hold said contactor in the closed circuit position and automatically and manually releasable from said contactor to permit said contactor to move to the open circuit position, said contactor means being pivotally secured to said contactor, said housing having indicator means disposed therein to indicate the circuit condition in said breaker upon automatic trip, said contactor in cluding means to bias said indicator to the indicating position.

14. In a manually and automatically operable circuit breaker having a housing, a cover means for said housing, said cover means having portions comprising manual operators, actuating means disposed beneath said cover, a contactor disposed in said housing having a portion engaging said housing, means secured to said contactor and arranged to be engaged by said actuating means for movement of said contactor to the closed circuit position, a fault responsive means engageable with said contactor upon manual actuation of the contactor to circuit closed position to thereby hold said contactor in the closed circuit position and automatically and manually releasable from said contactor to permit said contactor to move to the open circuit position, said actuation means including a first and second actuators, said first actuator being engageable with said contactor means to move said contactor to the circuit closed position, said second actuator being engageable with said fault responsive means to thereby release said fault responsive means from engagement with said contactor to permit said contactor to move to the open circuit position, resilient means for causing said contactor to move to the open circuit position, said contactor means being pivotally secured to said contactor, said housing having indicator means disposed therein to indicate the circuit condition in said breaker upon automatic trip, said contactor including means to bias said indicator to the indicating position.

(References on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS Maple May 9, .1922 Frank et a1. Ian. 28, 1941 5 Bottinger et a1. July 31, 1942 Platz Sept. 28, 1943 'Von Hoorn Oct. 22, 1946 Gano et a1. Feb. 18, 1947 OBrien et a1. Mar. 1, 1949 10 Berthier Apr. 19, 1949 12 Platz et a1. Apr. 11, 1950 Bourne July 25, 1950 Zozulin et a1. Ian. 5, 1954 Wintle Dec. 4, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain May 5, 1932 Great Britain Apr. 1, 1949 Germany Nov. 28, 1936 France Ian. 17, 1949 

